Bristol County man convicted in Fall River Superior Court of murdering his father

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 24-year-old from Rehoboth was convicted today of First-Degree Murder after a jury trial that lasted more than three weeks in Fall River Superior Court. 

Joseph “JD” Housley, II was convicted in the July 6, 2021, shooting death of his own father, Joseph Housley, at 101 Forsythe Circle in Seekonk. 

A co-defendant and close friend of this defendant, Christopher Heron, was previously convicted of Second-Degree Murder by a jury and sentenced to serve a life sentence with possible parole eligibility at 18 years on June 19, 2025. 

Both cases were tried in front of the Honorable Rene Dupuis and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Karen O’Sullivan and Shawn Guilderson. 

Joseph “JD” Housley, II, will be sentenced on December 1, 2025.

A Bristol County Grand Jury in September of 2022, handed down indictments charging Joseph “JD” Housley II and Heron, both of Rehoboth.

At approximately 9:53 p.m. on July 6, 2021, Seekonk Police responded to 911 calls regarding possible gun shots in the area of 101 Forsyth Circle. When first responders arrived on scene, they located Housley suffering from an apparent gunshot wound in an apartment at 101 Forsyth Circle. He was later pronounced deceased.

“I am pleased the jury held the defendant accountable in murdering his own father.  It demonstrates a very disturbed mind,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.